House of Representatives: Kwara lawmaker joins Speaker race, wants slot for North-Central

A re-elected member of the House of Representatives from Kwara State, Abdulraheem Olawuyi, has joined the race for the Speaker of the 10th National Assembly. He said North-Central deserves to produce the next Speaker of the House of Representatives for equity and justice, adding that only the zoning of the position out of the North-Central will deny him the slot.

Olawuyi, who declared his interest at a briefing in Abuja, said he might look like an underdog but he is the best for the office. He is the first member of the House of Representatives to formally declare his intention to contest the position of the Speaker when the 10th National Assembly is inaugurated in June.

He said: “I have the passion vision, experience, capacity, competence, courage, humility, patriotism the requisite knowledge and capacity to provide the required and equitable leadership, that ensures inclusive participation of all members to pilot the affairs of the House and the country in the right direction, in line with our constitutional mandate and collective aspirations of the people we represent.

“As Speaker of the House, I promise to promote transparency and accountability in the operations of the House of Representatives. I believe the citizens have the right to know what is happening in government.

He also promised to prioritize Bills that are aimed at “improving the lives of our constituents – such as affordable healthcare, security, education and job creation, while fostering a spirit of bi-partisanship and cooperation in the House.

He said: “It’s only by working together, can we successfully tackle the issues that confront our nation. And we are well prepared to use the mandate of Nigerians to make laws that will ensure good governance for Nigeria”.

But Olawuyi said he was prepared to adopt the position of the party on zoning, saying he will consider stepping down from the race if the position is not zoned to the North Central zone.

He said even though zoning of positions was not part of the nation’s constitution, the parties adopt it as a way of balancing power.

He was however quick to add that Nigerians must grow beyond the politics of religion and ethnicity.

He said: “We want the position of Speaker in the North-Central. But if the party decides that the position of Speaker is not going to the North Central. I will be the first to support it. Outside zoning that might shut me out, if I make it to the floor, I will be the next Speaker”.

The lawmaker, who described himself as the underdog of the contest said he will not compromise on the standard of governance.

He said: “As many of you have noticed, our country is facing unprecedented challenges ranging from security to the economic downturn which has been unprecedented in the history of our nation.

“It is crystal clear that Nigerians are in need of courageous and competent leaders at all levels that will take over from the outgoing leaders with the expectation that things will change positively for the generality of Nigerians who have through the ballot have overwhelmingly given their support through the ballot to the APC to continue to manage the affairs of our dear country for the next 4 years .

“The challenges of leadership are no doubt daunting and the expectations of Nigerians are nonetheless very high. This new administration will be committed to fixing the identified challenges and provide the needed political, economic, social direction that would inspire a “Renewed Hope” for our country and its people.

“Today, God in his infinite mercy has graciously put us in a partnership position, as legislators, with the Executive and the Judiciary, to keep this Hope Alive for our dear countrymen and women, irrespective of tribal or religious differences, age, sex, political affiliations or any other parochial sentiments.

“With the elections concluded, the time of partisanship is over, and now is the time for partnership and nation building.”

He said further that the Hope Alive objective of the 10th Assembly was for a better Nigeria with the Renewed Hope of shared prosperity for all Nigerians and by all Nigerians in our collective desire for security, unity and development of our nation and its teeming population.

He explained that he was contesting the position of Speakers because he believes that members of the legislative arm of government have a cardinal responsibility to achieve these goals collectively.

He said: “I have the passion vision, experience, capacity, competence, courage, humility, patriotism the requisite knowledge and capacity to provide the required and equitable leadership, that ensures inclusive participation of all members to pilot the affairs of the House and the country in the right direction, in line with our constitutional mandate and collective aspirations of the people we represent.

“As Speaker of the House, I promise to promote transparency and accountability in the operations of the House of Representatives. I believe the citizens have the right to know what is happening in government.

He also promised to prioritize Bills that are aimed at “improving the lives of our constituents – such as affordable healthcare, security, education and job creation, while fostering a spirit of bi-partisanship and cooperation in the House.

He said: “It’s only by working together, can we successfully tackle the issues that confront our nation. And we are well prepared to use the mandate of Nigerians to make laws that will ensure good governance for Nigeria”.